Scott Roos
Special to the Herald
The fourth MooseFest took place at the Bellevue Community Hall on Saturday, Aug. 10 showcasing performances by Will Ardell, Evan Baxter, Christian de la Luna, The Checkout Queens, Sëdézë and Brayden King.
Checkout Queens co-lead vocalist Oli Guselle performs at the fourth edition of MooseFest on Saturday, Aug. 10.
Singer-songwriter Raven Reid hosted the evening’s entertainment. Overall, it was a diverse event highlighting promising new talent. The lineup consisted of artists who have established close relationships with organizers Mark Poppen and Joel Gaudet through their “The “Sitdown Podcast” over the years.
Undoubtedly, MooseFest culture is highly encouraging towards artists and the music scene in Saskatchewan overall. Many performers who participated in previous editions were present to watch and experience it all over again this year. This truly reflects the dedication and effort that Poppen and Gaudet have put into creating such a strong community.
“The long lasting friendships this festival has created has made every moment of all of it worthwhile,” Gaudet told the Herald in a text message the morning after MooseFest.
“The vibe is great,” Checkout Queens guitarist Braden Buhler said in a brief conversation after his band’s set. “It’s chill, like a bunch of friends hanging out and playing music.”
Regarding the performance by the Checkout Queens, they were a dynamic group, delivering their own distinctive style of theatrical pop punk. Guitarists Buhler and Spencer Krips provided a strong base of high-energy riffs to complement co-lead vocalists Oli Guselle and Avery Wall.
Guselle and Wall were incredibly engaging to observe, with their stage interactions being highly entertaining. The rhythm section, consisting of Alan Nieman on bass and Derrick Frost on drums, maintained a solid groove, giving the sextet the freedom to rock and/or roll as they so pleased. These musicians are certainly ones to keep an eye on for live performances, as they were truly impressive.
Sëdézë was also a highlight. Despite the absence of their vocalist Lov Toottoosis due to a flight delay, Sëdézë demonstrated their talent with a heartfelt and moving performance, including their original tracks “Purple Blanket”, “Where Do You Go”, and the captivating closing number “Redlines”.
Their impressive covers of the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind” and the timeless Beatles’ hit “Don’t Let Me Down” were standout moments of the show. It is clear that this band has a bright future ahead, they delivered an impactful and unforgettable show.
Headliner Brayden King, who recently gained some recognition after appearing as a contestant on American Idol, closed out the event. Originally from Saskatchewan but now living in Edmonton, King entertained the audience with his unique blend of pop/country/rock. With a captivating presence on stage and a physically imposing 6’9 height, King was the perfect conclusion to the night.
With the fourth edition of MooseFest now in the rearview mirror, the biggest takeaway continues to be that arguably some of the best live acts in the province have graced their stage. The Hourhand, The Radiant, The Steadies, Seven Mile Sun, Katelyn Lehner and The Brothers G have all called the MooseFest stage home at one time or another. Poppen and Gaudet definitely have their finger on the pulse of the music scene and know how to book a fantastic night of music, that’s for certain.
